Cold Justice

Cold Justice is an unscripted true crime series originally broadcast on TNT and currently on Oxygen. The series, produced by Dick Wolf, follows former Harris County,Texas prosecutor Kelly Siegler [1]and a team of investigators as they re-open unsolved murder cases with the consent and assistance of local law enforcement. Crime scene investigator Yolanda McClary, a veteran of the Las Vegas Metro police, also appeared on the series; McClary had earlier been the inspiration for Catherine Willows, the character portrayed by Marg Helgenberger on the series CSI.[2]

As of April 2018[update], the team has helped to generate 35 arrests and 18 convictions, in addition to four confessions, three guilty pleas and three murder convictions.[3][4]

Although TNT made no official announcement, McClary wrote on her personal Facebook page in mid-2016 that the series was canceled. She later said that the production company is shopping the series to other networks.[5] In February 2017, it was announced that Cold Justice had been acquired by Oxygen.[6][7] A fourth season premiered on July 22, 2017.[8] On April 23, 2018, Oxygen announced the series had been renewed for a fifth season,[3] which aired its first half from August 4 to October 6, 2018.[9]

Contents

Cold Justice scored 66 out of 100 on Metacritic based on five "generally favorable" reviews.[10] Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times states, "Although one can be fairly certain, if only for legal reasons, that any suspect shown on television is going to turn out to be guilty of something, the lies that are told, the twists of the legal system and the simple horrible stupidity of the crimes provide drama enough."[11] Brian Lowry of Variety stated, "While some of those made-for-TV encounters feel a little stilted, they do tend to pull you along, wanting to see how the drama plays out."[12] Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times states, "The idea that the criminal justice arena also needs a TV show to serve as equalizer is somehow dismaying. Investigative journalism programs have done this for years, but Cold Justice is more ride-to-the-rescue, less public service."[13] David Hinckley of the New York Daily News stated, "There isn’t a lot of drama." He added, "Seeking justice is good. Don't hate us if we don't always watch."[14]

In August 2014, a Gallatin, Tennessee, man filed a defamation lawsuit against the show's producers for implicating and never fully exonerating him in their investigation into the 2010 death of a woman who was suffocated and stabbed inside her home. Joshua Singletary was treated for cuts at the hospital around the time of the murder and arrested as a suspect. He was later released owing to insufficient evidence. According to Singletary, the aired episode ruined his reputation and caused his business to lose customers. He has requested a jury trial and is seeking $100,000 in damages and other compensations.[15]